Page 7 of Choices

Which means Vitale killed someone with drugs and dumped them in our territory to bring the heat of law enforcement.

We own most of the police department, but we don't own the DA, the medical examiners, or the DEA that's eventually going to be assigned to investigate. It brings unwanted heat and attention that we really don't want, which means slowing down our operations and paying for more coverage.

It's a declaration of war.

I'm sure Rico's considering if he did it to weaken us before an all-out attack.

"You two get her car and drop it off at her house," he says, tossing Santiago the keys to her vehicle." And then you’re done for the day."

Internally, I pump a fist into the air.

I'm about to stalk the shit out of Hannah Calahan.

Chapter three

Hannah

Iwake with a start, sitting up suddenly in bed, and I know something's wrong. The sun's shining through the curtains and Jack hasn't woken me up yet.

Oh right, they're at my mom's. I drag my tongue along the roof of my mouth. Tastes fucking awful.

And then I remember.

I'd witnessed a murder.

I'd smoked pot with the murderer.

I'd fallen asleep by the pool.

But woke up in my bed.

I look down, still fully clothed. I reach for my hair and sniff it. It reeks of stale marijuana.

I groan. I was such a fucking idiot last night. But a piece of white catches my eye on my nightstand. It's a piece of paper ripped from my to-do list notebook.

Call or text if you need anything, mami. Anything.

-Rico

(555)-333-7955

I snort derisively. The drug-dealing murderer I'd accidentally taken home had shown more compassion to me than my husband of fifteen years and the father of my children.

I shake my head. That's a terrible thing to think.

But I'm nothing if not polite. I find my phone, plugged into its charger (thoughtful of him), and add his contact.

Me: Rico, this is Hannah. Thank you so much for taking care of me last night and not taking advantage...

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Me: Not raping me in my sleep?

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Me: Not murdering me in my sleep?

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